By Kingsley Asiedu
At the sidelines of the ongoing 6th AU MID-YEAR Coordination Meeting in Accra, Ghana, Ambassador Josepha Sacko, Commissioner for Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy and Sustainable Environment (ARBR), at the African Union Commission, addressed reporters on the outcomes of the recent African Fertilizer and Soil Health
Summit held in Nairobi, Kenya.
Amb. Sacko emphasized the critical importance of fertilizers and soil health as key inputs for agricultural productivity and food production in Africa, as the continent’s population continues to grow rapidly. “As policymakers in the African Union, we have to devise the right policies and strategies to address these issues,” she stated.
The African Fertilizer and Soil Summit, held from May 7-9, 2024, was attended by heads of state, government ministers, officials, development partners and stakeholders from the agriculture, fertilizer and soil sectors. Three key outcomes emerged from the summit:
1. Adoption of the Nairobi Declaration on African Fertilizer and Soil Health, outlining a 10-year action plan.
2. Endorsement of the Soil Initiative for Africa
framework to address soil degradation and restore soil health.
3. Commitment to triple domestic production and distribution of certified organic and inorganic fertilizers to reach at least 70% of smallholder farmers by 2030.
Other commitments include preserving and reversing land degradation on at least 30% of degraded soils by 2034, as well as fully operationalizing the African Fertilizer Financing Mechanism to improve production, procurement and distribution of fertilizers.
Amb. Sacko emphasized the need for a robust implementation mechanism to ensure these important outcomes are not left on the shelf. “We are already working with our partners to kickstart the implementation process,” she assured.
The press briefing highlighted the African Union’s proactive approach to addressing food security and agricultural productivity
challenges through comprehensive policies and strategies on fertilizers and soil health – critical elements in feeding the continent’s growing population.